Website Compliance Best Practices: Full Guide for Agencies

If you run a website design or marketing agency, you already know how important it is to build beautiful and functional websites for your clients.

But there’s one area many agencies forget until it’s too late…

Website compliance. 

This blog post will help you understand website compliance best practices so you can protect your clients and your agency from legal or financial trouble… just like you’d protect performance when building a website that truly converts traffic to sales.

If your client’s website isn’t compliant with privacy, accessibility, or security laws, it could face lawsuits, fines, or even lose customer trust. And guess what?

As their agency, you might also be held responsible. That’s why ignoring compliance isn’t just risky… it’s bad for business.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through simple, practical steps your agency can take to stay compliant.

You’ll learn how to conduct regular audits, create compliance checklists, train your team, and use the right tools to keep every client project safe and legal.

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to make compliance part of your agency’s workflow… without the stress or confusion.

Let’s get into it.

What is website compliance?

Website compliance means making sure your website follows legal, security, and accessibility rules…

Protecting user data, keeping hackers out, and ensuring everyone, including people with disabilities, can use it safely and fairly.

Think of it like following road rules so everyone stays safe… except this time, it’s for your website visitors.

When your website is compliant, users can trust you with their information, and you avoid legal trouble.

In short, website compliance helps you build a safer, more professional online space for your business and your audience.

5 key website compliance areas to focus on

Here are the five main areas every agency (and business owner) should focus on to stay compliant.

1. Privacy laws and data protection

Let’s start with privacy… one of the biggest parts of website compliance today.

When people visit your website, they often share information without realizing it… their name, email address, or even how they move around your website.

Privacy laws are there to make sure this information is protected and not misused.

The two most popular laws are GDPR and CCPA:

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): This law started in Europe. It gives people more control over how their data is collected and used.
• CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act): This is a U.S. law that protects the privacy of people in California.

Even if your business isn’t based in Europe or California, your website might still get visitors from those places… and that means these laws could apply to you.

2. Website accessibility

Next up is accessibility… making sure your website works for everyone, including people with disabilities.

Imagine if you walked into a store and there was no ramp for someone using a wheelchair, or no signs for someone who can’t see well.

That would be unfair.

Online accessibility is about fixing those kinds of barriers, but on your website.

The two main guidelines are:

• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): A U.S. law that promotes equal access for people with disabilities.
• WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): A global set of best practices that explain how to make websites more accessible.

3. Website security and SSL

Website security is another huge part of compliance.

If privacy laws are about what you do with data, security is about how you protect it.

When users visit your website, they trust you with their personal details… maybe their email, password, or credit card number. If your website isn’t secure, hackers could steal that information.

That’s where SSL comes in.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) creates a safe connection between your website and the visitor’s browser.

You can tell a website has SSL when you see a padlock symbol and “https://” in the address bar.

Without it, browsers like Chrome will even show warnings saying, “This site is not secure.” 

That’s the last thing you want.

4. Content and copyright compliance

This part is simple but often ignored:

Don’t use content that isn’t yours.

Everything on your website… text, photos, music, or videos… should be either created by you or legally allowed for use.

This area of compliance is all about being honest and respectful of other people’s work.

5. Cookie and tracking compliance

Finally, let’s talk about cookies… not the ones you eat, but the tiny data files websites use to track visitors.

Cookies help websites remember your preferences, like what’s in your shopping cart or your login details.

But they also collect personal data, which means they fall under privacy laws.

Website compliance best practices for agencies

Now, you know the key areas to focus on for website compliance.

The next thing is to understand the best practices for these key areas. This means what you can do to avoid breaking the laws.

Let’s see…

1. For privacy laws and data protection

I. Use consent management tools

You’ve probably seen those pop-ups that say, “We use cookies to improve your experience.”

That’s a consent management tool. It allows users to choose what data they want to share.

Agencies should help clients add these tools to make sure users know how their data is being used… and have the choice to opt in or out.

II. Add clear privacy and cookie policies

Every website should have a simple privacy policy and cookie policy. These explain what data is collected, why it’s collected, and how it’s used.

It’s like being upfront with your visitors… no secrets, no surprises.

III. Secure forms and payment gateways

Any form on your website (like a contact form or checkout page) should be safe. That means it should use encryption to protect what people type in.

For example, when customers enter their credit card details, that information should be sent securely, not through plain text that hackers can read.

2. For website accessibility

I. Use alt text for images

Alt text is a short description of an image. It helps people using screen readers understand what’s on the page.

For example, if you have a photo of a smiling woman holding a laptop, the alt text might say, “Woman smiling while working on a laptop.”

II. Ensure good color contrast

Some people have trouble seeing certain colors. Make sure the text stands out clearly from the background.

For instance, light gray text on a white background is hard to read.

III. Support keyboard navigation

Not everyone uses a mouse. Some people navigate using only their keyboard.

A compliant website should allow users to move through menus, buttons, and forms using the “Tab” key.

Accessibility isn’t just about being “nice”… it’s about making sure your website reaches as many people as possible.

The more accessible your website is, the better your user experience (UX) and SEO will be.

3. For website security and SSL

I. Use strong passwords, firewalls, and backups

Security starts with simple habits:

• Use strong passwords with letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Install firewalls to block hackers.
• Regularly back up your website so you can recover it if something goes wrong.

II. Do regular security tests

Every few months, test your website for weak points.

You can use online tools that scan for security issues and recommend fixes.

4. For content and copyright compliance

I. Use licensed images, videos, and fonts

If you use stock photos or videos, make sure they come from a reliable website like Shutterstock or Pexels. 

Don’t just download pictures from Google Images… they might be copyrighted.

II. Give credit where necessary

If you use someone else’s work, always credit them.

For example, if you quote a study, include a link to the original source.

III. Avoid plagiarism and misleading claims

Plagiarism isn’t just bad for your reputation… it can get you in legal trouble.

Always write your own content, and never make false claims about your products or services.

5. For cookie and tracking compliance

I. Use cookie consent banners

As explained earlier, you’ve probably seen pop-ups that say, “This website uses cookies.” 

These banners are required in many regions, like the EU.

They inform visitors that your website collects data and let them choose whether to accept or reject certain cookies.

For example, some cookies might track how long a person stays on a page… useful for analytics… while others track ad behavior.

Users should be able to say no to the ones they don’t want.

II. Make tracking transparent

If you use tracking tools like Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel, clearly mention that in your cookie or privacy policy.

Visitors should know what’s being tracked and why.

General website compliance best practices for agencies

While those best practices explained above are great to follow, agencies still need to know some general ones.  

The goal is to help agencies be seen as one that truly cares about doing things the right way… safely, responsibly, and transparently.

Let’s check them out…

1. Conduct regular compliance audits

A website compliance audit is just a fancy way of saying, “Let’s check if everything is working and legal.”

Think of it like a car service… you don’t wait until your car breaks down before checking the engine. The same goes for websites.

Agencies should schedule regular checks (at least every few months) to review things like:

• Is the privacy policy still accurate?
• Are cookies and tracking tools working properly?
• Is the website still secure (SSL, HTTPS, no weak passwords)?
• Is the website still accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities?

By doing these regular audits, agencies can fix small issues before they turn into big problems… like legal trouble or a hacked website.

2. Create a website compliance checklist for every client project

Every new project should start with a simple checklist. This helps make sure nothing important is forgotten during the design or launch process.

A good website compliance checklist might include things like:

• Does the website have a clear privacy policy?
• Are cookies properly managed?
• Is the website accessible (with alt text, clear fonts, and good contrast)?
• Does the website use HTTPS for security?
• Are all images, videos, and fonts properly licensed?

Having this checklist keeps everyone on the same page… website designers, developers, and copywriters… and ensures every client’s website meets the same standard of safety and fairness.

3. Partner with legal and cybersecurity experts

No agency can know everything… and that’s okay.

That’s why it’s smart to work with people who specialize in website laws and security.

A legal expert can help make sure your privacy and cookie policies meet local laws like GDPR or CCPA.

They can also guide you on what kind of data your website can collect and what permissions you need from users.

A cybersecurity expert, on the other hand, helps you protect websites from hackers, malware, and data leaks.

They can test the website’s security systems, fix weak spots, and recommend better tools for protection.

By partnering with these professionals, agencies show clients they take compliance seriously… not just in design but in every part of the online experience.

4. Train team members on accessibility and data privacy

It’s one thing for a few people in an agency to understand compliance… but it’s better when everyone does.

Every designer, developer, writer, and project manager should know the basics of:

• Accessibility: Making sure websites are usable for people with disabilities (like adding alt text for images and using readable color contrast).
• Data privacy: Knowing how to collect, store, and handle user information responsibly.

This doesn’t mean everyone needs to become a lawyer or a security expert. But simple team training… even a one-hour workshop or short online course… can make a big difference.

It helps the whole team make better daily decisions, like choosing secure plugins or writing more transparent privacy messages.

5. Keep policies and plugins updated regularly

Compliance isn’t a one-time setup… it’s an ongoing process (Website maintenance services play a big role here).

Laws and software change all the time.

A policy that was fine last year might not meet today’s requirements. Likewise, plugins that handle cookies, forms, or payments may need updates to stay secure.

Agencies should:

• Review privacy and cookie policies every few months.
• Update or replace old plugins regularly.
• Watch for any legal changes that affect their clients’ websites.

Just like your phone needs updates to stay safe from new viruses, websites also need regular attention to stay compliant and secure.

6. Use website compliance tools

Thankfully, agencies don’t have to do all this manually. There are great tools that make compliance easier and faster.

Here are a few examples:

• Cookiebot: Helps you manage cookie consent banners and user permissions.
• Termly: Creates professional privacy policies, cookie policies, and terms of service.
• UserWay: Improves website accessibility with tools like text resizing and screen reader support.

These tools save time and reduce the chance of mistakes.

They also show clients that your agency uses trusted, professional systems to handle compliance… not random free plugins.

7. Test websites on multiple devices and browsers

Finally, a simple but important step:

Test your websites everywhere.

A website might look great on a laptop but fail on a mobile phone or an older browser.

Testing across devices ensures everyone… regardless of their device, age, or location… can use the website smoothly.

During testing, check:

• Are all buttons and links easy to click on mobile?
• Do forms work correctly across browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge?
• Is the text readable and colors consistent on different screens?

When agencies test carefully, they don’t just catch bugs… they make sure the website is truly accessible and user-friendly, which is a big part of compliance.

Wrapping up

If you want to design a website, compliance isn’t optional… it’s part of great design.

It shows your agency cares about doing things the right way.

Do you need help?

Block Agency is available.

We design websites for agencies and their clients that are not only beautiful but also secure, accessible, and fully compliant.

Let’s help you build websites that impress visitors and keep your business safe.

Talk to us here: hey@blockagency.co

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